Because burning fossil fuels creates much pollution, alternatives are being investigated. What might limit the use of wind as a major energy source?

The strength of the wind varies.

Wind machines have huge blades to capture the wind.

Turbines and generators in the wind machines create electricity.

Wind power does not create pollution.

There are many reasons why the use of oil needs to be managed carefully. Which of the following is not one of these reasons?

There are only limited supplies of oil in the Earth.

Oil spills at sea have killed many marine animals.

Burning oil contributes to acid rain and the greenhouse effect.

Oil was created by plants and animals.

Many scientists believe that nuclear fusion will become a possible energy source within the next 10 years. What resource would be most effective in tracking the progress of this energy source?

The local newspaper

A chemical encyclopedia

A physics textbook

Scientific periodical

This picture shows a radiometer. It is designed to be placed in a sunny window. One side of each thin blade of the radiometer is painted black, and the other side is painted white. The Sun’s rays strike the blades, and the device begins to spin. The device is powered by which kind of energy?

Wind

Solar

Electrical

Geothermal

What is one advantage of using a hydroelectric plant?

It is expensive to build.

It provides renewable energy to human populations.

It has little effect on water flow.

It has little effect on wildlife when being constructed.

As the energy needs for Virginia increase, new sources of energy are required to replace or supplement the nonrenewable sources of energy now in use. Two sources of energy that are renewable and available in Virginia are —

natural gas and wind power

coal and hydropower

petroleum and solar power

wind power and solar power

A group of people were concerned about a new coal-burning power plant that might be built in their neighborhood. What is probably their main concern?

Burning coal produces more heat than burning wood.

The heat from burning coal can drive generators that produce electricity.

Burning coal produces sulfur dioxide which contributes to acid rain.

There is more coal in the earth than there is oil and gas.

Which of the following is an example of potential energy?

A glass jar sitting on a shelf

A flag waving in the wind

A ball rolling along a sidewalk

A battery powering a radio

The location on the track where the train has the greatest potential energy is —

1

2

3

4

Water stored behind a dam is an example of what type of energy?

Kinetic

Potential

Solar

Chemical

Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy?

A baseball moving from the pitcher to the catcher

A rock sitting on the top of a large hill

A pendulum at the top of its swing

A new flashlight battery

When plants perform photosynthesis, they use sunlight to produce food. This is an example of light energy being converted to —

heat energy

electrical energy

mechanical energy

chemical energy

Which system shows a transformation from chemical to electrical and light energy?

A car battery causes the headlights to shine.

A candle burns and lights up the room.

A display of fireworks in the night sky.

An avalanche rolls down a steep mountain.

Which of the following could best be used to demonstrate energy being transformed from electricity to heat?

A magnifying glass

A triple beam balance

A toaster

A gas oven

Which energy transformation occurs first in a coal-burning power plant?